American Standard Version ASV
New International Version NIV
1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
1
Elihu continued:
2 Suffer me a little, and I will show thee; For I have yet somewhat to say on God's behalf.
2
“Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
3
I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
4
Be assured that my words are not false; one who has perfect knowledge is with you.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding.
5
“God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.
6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted [their] right.
6
He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights.
7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted.
7
He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever.
8 And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of afflictions;
8
But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction,
9 Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
9
he tells them what they have done— that they have sinned arrogantly.
10 He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity.
10
He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil.
11 If they hearken and serve [him], They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.
11
If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
12 But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge.
12
But if they do not listen, they will perish by the swordand die without knowledge.
13 But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them.
13
“The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
14 They die in youth, And their life [perisheth] among the unclean.
14
They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines.
15 He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.
15
But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.
16 Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness.
16
“He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.
17 But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold [on thee].
17
But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.
18 For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside.
18
Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
19 Will thy cry avail, [that thou be] not in distress, Or all the forces of [thy] strength?
19
Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress?
20 Desire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place.
20
Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
21
Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction.
22 Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him?
22
“God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?
23
Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung.
24
Remember to extol his work, which people have praised in song.
25 All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off.
25
All humanity has seen it; mortals gaze on it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable.
26
How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.
27 For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor,
27
“He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams ;
28 Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly.
28
the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
29 Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion?
29
Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea.
30
See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea.
31 For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance.
31
This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance.
32 He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark.
32
He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark.
33 The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up.
33
His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach.
The American Standard Version is in the public domain.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.